Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon is the story of Milkman's journey to Enlightenment. Milkman appears destined for a life of isolation and self-alienation. The Deads exemplify the patriarchal, nuclear family that has been a stable and critical feature of American society. The family is the institution for producing children, maintaining them, and providing individuals with the means to understand their place in the world order. But this nuclear patriarchal family creates many of the problems it should be solving. Throughout the story, we see Milkman make his most important journey inside his soul as he grows from an egotistical young man into a compassionate adult. .
Prior to this transformation, Milkman is a selfish young man who lacks any consideration for others. Although he fits in at upscale parties, Milkman feels alienated by his family, other -African-Americans of all classes, and humanity in general. He is also physically different from the people around him, since he has an undersized leg. Since Milkman is able to conceal his leg, he believes that he can also hide his emotional shortcomings. Other characters, however, are aware of Milkman's oddities. His mother's guests comment that he is a strange child and his schoolmates frequently tease him and beat him. Even when Milkman is a grown man, his behavior is much different from that of the rest of his community. He even walks against the flow of traffic on the street. Although Milkman is flawed, his family loves him unconditionally. Milkman does not return their love, and causes them much pain. .
Milkman's mental development rests partly on his understanding of the ways in which his life is connected to others' experiences, and partly on establishing an intimate connection with the land and life of his ancestors. These understandings lead to his greater achievement of learning to complete, understand, and sing the song that contains the history of his family.
Milkman is drawn to Pilate for the "forbidden knowledge- she posses. ... Like his father, Milkman exploits the women that he claims to "love-. ... Like his father, Milkman feels the need to control the lives of his sisters. ... Milkman Dead, does not create sympathy at all. ... His enlightenment toward the end, is not enough to erase the pain and hurt that he has caused others. ...
In Milkman's search for self-discovery, his thoughts and beliefs are clouded by society's expectations. ... This enlightenment is shown through Milkman at then end of the book. ... From an early age, Milkman's dreams have been placed out of reach by society. Like many children Milkman's age, Milkman had a curiosity with the thought of flying For Milkman, flying was a method of escape in which he could flee from his problems. ... Since actions and the stories Milkman created held the capabilities to create a label in the eyes of people around him, Milkman began to care a...
Milkman begins his journey with the presumption that he is searching for stolen gold in hopes that this gold will grant him freedom from his boring life. On the first stop of his journey, Milkman finds himself among men of his father's generation who tell him the story of his grandfather's strength in leaving slavery and making a farm of his own. ... On Milkman's second stop of his journey, he encounters a stronger relation. ... Milkman Dead is of this generation. ... A search for family means a journey south. ...
Milkman is shaped by the pasts of his family and the places they represent. ... Not Doctor Street is a symbol for Ruth, Milkman's mother. ... Lincoln's Heaven was just that for Macon Dead, Milkman's father. ... With this new idea, he starts his journey to the last place of his short life. ... Foster's grandson, not Macon Dead's son, not even "Milkman". ...
Through beautiful language, with immense reality, she is able to describe young black mans journey as he uncovers his personal history, myth, and essence. ... Ruth breast-fed Milkman until he was six years old, hence the name Milkman. ... This realization begins Milkman's quest for self-authenticity. Milkman's flight to identity takes him many places. ... While Milkman seems quiet, poetic, almost stumbling on his authentic self. ...
Through literary devices such as irony, symbolism, and foreshadowing, combined with immense reality, Morrison is able to describe a young black man's journey as he uncovers his personal history, mythology, and essence. ... Ruth breast-fed Milkman until he was six years old, hence the name Milkman. ... ns Milkman's quest for self-authenticity. Milkman's flight to identity takes him many places. ... While Milkman seems quiet, poetic, almost stumbling on his authentic self. ...
Milkman wants to be different from Macon; When Macon wears bow ties, Milkman wears four-in-hands; When Macon focuses in his business, Milkman then goes out for parties. ... Milkman and Macon both have terrible relationships with their loves. For Milkman, his love of his girlfriend Hagar is inconsistent. ... During one of her murder attempt, Milkman wishes, "Me or her. ... The relation between Macon and Ruth is certainly unhappy just as Milkman and Hagar's. ...
" The theme of identity as a step in flying is clearly portrayed throughout the novel as Morrison writes of Milkman's journey to find his own identity in order to fly. ... Being hunted down by his best friend because of the gold that instigates his journey, Milkman's expedition is prolonged due to him being very distracted. ... He is able to realize the power of flight in the final moments of his journey. ... Milkman Dead, an avid dreamer of flying, slowly realizes that the only way to soar is by leaving everything behind and riding the wind on his journey of self-knowledge. ......
Milkman seems to not care much about his life for the longest time. ... It's sad how Milkman treated her. I feel if Milkman had come back from his trip earlier and was able to talk to Hager as the "new" Milkman she would probably not have killed herself. The old Milkman left her scarred and she just could not handle it. ... Even Milkman, his best friend, he is willing to kill because he has the misconception that Milkman was stealing gold and basically stealing from the black man. ...
